Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1887-07-22
a Leech Pond.

One Of the largest leech ponds in the
world is situated at Newtown. l.. l.,
saws the Brooklyn Eagle. Ii was for
merly operated by German who, hav-
ing connections in France, imported
hundreds of thousands Of leeches annu-
ally. The farm in its entirety measures
Is acres. visited the spot one day last
week, but found that while few years
ago 900 leeehes day were sold from
there, less than 100 are now disposed of.
Various reasons are given for this great
falling off. An aged German woman,
wife of the proprietor, with whom
talked, stated that the weather OF the
past few winters had been too severe for
the proper cultivation Of leeches. Nany
of the ponds are situated on the left OF
the railroad track going north. between
Newton and Winfield. They are thus
exposed to the wind and the rising OF
the tide of Bowery Bay. Salt water,
which is destructive to the life OF
leech. is forced from the bay To the
ponds.
The American leech is absolutely
worthless for medical purposes. IL Is
black and a poor bitter. OF the foreign
lceches, those imported from France and
Hungary are preferred. The body oil
the American leech is less than one-third
the size Of the imported. The latter is
spindle shaped aud ilaltened so as to be
elliptical. 1t is somewhat pointed IN
front, except when the mouth Is IN
action. Externally the body is covered
with thin perforated cuticle. This cu'
ticle or coat is shed AT intervals. The
bottom OF the leech ponds at Newtown
is composed of clay with margins oi
peat. In the latter, the cocoons, or eggs,
are deposited about the middle OF June.
Musk and water rats are enemies OF the
leech. and eXterminate many OF their
young. When the ponds at Newtown
were fully stocked, cows were employed
to feed the leeches. These unwilling
brutes were driven into the water at
stated intervals, much 10 their annoy
ance. At times il became necessary To
tie the cows for fear they would escape.
Leeches are also fed by having linen
bags full of fresh blood suspended in
the water. Adult leeches, unless they
are especially meant for breeding pur-
poses, are fed every six months.
DR.. j. G.. johnson Informed me re-
Gently that leeches were now seldom
used for medical purposes. Less than
quarter of century ago, he said, mill
lions and millions Of them were used In
this country aud abroad, but, like cup
ping, the practice has fallen into disnse.
In DR.. Johnson's opinion leecl should
be used but once. When used on two
or more persons IL is apt to carry con-
tagious disease, in case either OF them
was SO affected. The leech Is only OF
service i'm local blood letting. Leeches
which have been generously fed are OF
but little use. They may be made 10
bite, however, by smearing the SKIN
with cream or blood, or by immcrslng
them for minute In porter or tepid
water. Each fills in about one minute,
and draws about half all ounce OF blood.
1t isa well known fact that the con-
sumption OF leeches has fallen immense
" the last 80 years, 80, ,000. 900 OF them
being used in lS46 in France alone. In
1863 7,OO0,0 900 were used in London,
and about the same quantities in Paris.
Leeches can be preserved in pure water
for years. In transporting them from
the French domestic market vessel
with small perforations and filled with
moist, turfy earth or peat, made into
stiff mud. is used.
"The trade in leeches has almost died
out" said local druggist to me. "oi
course we have TO keep them, but 1t
really does not pay us for the trouble
taken. Good imported leeches are
worth 20 cents apiece. | have seen as
many as 30 on one person. In local ap'
plication they are much better than
bleeding. they Are also used by pugil-
lists to take down swellingt.'